Two of the Berks Girls Soccer League's top teams, Wyomissing and Tulpehocken, are switching divisions.

Central Catholic and Holy Name are playing their final seasons before the two schools merge to become Berks Catholic.

And last year's Berks IV champion, Kutztown, has a new coach.

Here are five things to watch in Berks III and IV this season:

1. Trading places

Wyomissing was second in Berks III in 2010.

Tulpehocken took second in Berks IV.

Both are headed to new divisions this season - or to their old divisions, returning to where they were before switching for the 2009 season - and both have the players to compete for a championship. Wyomissing won 10 consecutive division crowns before going 9-3-1 last year and finishing behind Schuylkill Valley.

"While we lost only three starters to graduation, they were each critical players - central defender, central midfielder and leading scorer," Wyomissing coach Chris Rada said. "We have some reshuffling to do, but we have a strong nucleus returning and should challenge Kutztown for the top spot in Berks IV.

"Kutztown won the division last year, beat Wyomissing and has most of its team back again. They should be the favorites."

The Spartans have nine returning starters, including senior midfielder/forward Corbin Weaver, one of the league's top 10 scorers in 2010 with 11 goals and eight assists. Goalkeeper Erin Vail and defender/midfielder Alexa Bickhart, also returning starters, and defender Chelsea Pellicano are the other seniors.

Tulpehocken, which will play in Berks III this season, also has a long list of veterans, including three all-division seniors in forward/midfielder Nikki Dunlap, defender Kelli Noecker and defender/midfielder Regina Stump.

Coach Paul Zerbe has 15 returning players, including 10 starters, from a team that placed second to Kutztown in Berks IV. The team's key loss was all-division forward Lydia Kahl, who had 13 goals and four assists last year.

2. New Cougars coach

Sharif Saber takes over a Kutztown program that went 10-1-2 to win Berks IV a year ago.

The best news for the new coach? He has 14 players back who contributed to last season's 15-3-2 overall record.

"The girls are entering the season looking to compete for another Berks IV title, along with making a run in districts," Saber said. "As a staff we are looking for the squad to work hard to make sure we are constantly progressing within the new system. If we are able to do this, everything else will take care of itself."

Like everyone else, he said he expects the division's new addition, Wyomissing, to provide a major challenge. Kutztown beat the Spartans 3-0 in the teams' only meeting last year.

"With a new coaching staff, and all the changes that involves, the path to a Berks IV championship will be a tough journey for us," Saber said. "We'd love to bring home another division title, but whoever wants to be crowned champion will have to go through Wyomissing this season. They are the team to beat."

3. Helping Hand

All-state forward Brady Walsh is now at DeSales University.

Schuylkill Valley coach Jason Bagenstose also lost his whole defense and goalkeeper to graduation after last season. But there's still reason for optimism for the Panthers, who won their first Berks III title in 2010.

It starts with three-time all-division forward Erin Hand, who was the league's fourth-leading scorer with 13 goals and 12 assists as a junior. All-division midfielder Courtney Schlappich, midfielder Kayla Jardine, the versatile Kirsti Bair (can play both midfield and in net) and midfielder Molly Matthews are also seniors.

"Berks III is a very deep division," Bagenstose said. "Brandywine and Tulpehocken are traditionally strong, and Hamburg and Oley are both well-coached teams with some very talented players."

4. Last chance

Just weeks after completing the schools' last basketball seasons, Central Catholic and Holy Name will embark on their final soccer seasons.

With Wyomissing and Kutztown firmly established as the favorites in Berks IV, the Cardinals and Blue Jays are expected to contend for the next spot. Knowing it's the last year they'll play each other should add spice to an already heated rivalry.

For the record, Central beat Holy Name twice last year. Coach Allen Kardoley's Cardinals are still fairly young, with just two seniors on the roster.

"The first six games will give a good indication of what we could accomplish," Kardoley said.

Holy Name coach Steve Miller also has a young group, with several freshmen and sophomores expected to contribute significant time. Miller, who also coaches the Holy Name boys, is approaching his 100th combined win. He has 35 as the girls coach and 62 with the boys.

5. One class fits all?

Smaller schools will face a disadvantage in this year's PIAA spring soccer tournament.

There will be just one bracket, with Triple-A and Double-A schools competing for the same championship. The District 3 playoffs, scheduled to begin May 16, will be divided into two classes.

The PIAA bracket reduction is another change in advance of fall 2012, when girls soccer will become a fall sport across Pennsylvania.